The National tribune., 1887-04-28
PENSION LEGISLATION.

AZ 10 MAHS W pV5An INV bnS SsAAANSs WI
sideration of the pension legislation which
the soldiers of the country viii, as a body,
ask of the coming Congress
We emphasize as body for the reason
that ii is vitality necessary that we all agree
upon what shall be asked, and that the re-
quest for il be made as with one voice.
Only in this way can we hope for success
Our opponents are numerous, active and I'M
scrupulous They are only too eager to
take advantage Of any difference of opinion
in our own ranks, TO play of one division
against another, and so. defeat both. We
saw this illustrated last Winter, when the
opponents Of the Dependent Pension Bill
tried TO make the three Posts, and some half
dozen Generals who supported the veto of
more weight and importance than the thou
sands Of Posts and hundreds of thousands of
soldiers who supported the bill.
We say il is wise TO begin now the earnest
consideration Of proposed pension legisla-
ton, because il should lie carefully thought
out before the meeting Of the National En-
Campment, so that the action taken by that
body may commend itself TO the hearty sup
port Of every comrade. We must enter the
campaign before the next Congress, with
firm, solid ranks, carefully dressed on the
colors. The interests of our suffering and
needy comrades demand this.
If we frame our request wisely-if we ask
what there is a reasonable prospect Of get
ting, and support that request with hearty
unanimity, we can succeed, and bring relief
to our destitute and suffering comrades. II
we do not ask wisely, or if we approach Con-
gress with broken ranks, we shall get moth
ing, and our comrades will be doomed 10
another year Of weary waiting.
We need hardly say that The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE is in favor Of the greatest possible
liberalization of pensions. Ii believes that
this country cannot do too much-it cannot
even do enough-fOr the men who saved lis
life at the cost Of their health, strength and
best years. Could il have its way the entire
surplus each year would be distributed
among the broken-down veterans, their
widows and orphans. 1t is hardly necessary
for us TO say this, after the many years we
have fought for justice to the soldiers.
But, unfortunately, ii is not question Of
what we or anybody else want for the sol
dier; it is not a question Of what is due
him in justice and decency. ii is question
Of what he can get.
1t must be kept in mind all the time that
ofthe 325 Representatives in Congress l2l
are from districts south Of Mason and Dix
on's Line, and, with a few exceptions, art
determinedly opposed 10 any liberal pen
sion legislation. Many of them, if they
could, would wipe out the whole pen
sion roll. They showed themselves SOLID
phalanx during the consideration of th'
Dependent Pension Bill, and they viii b
even more powerful in the next Congress
since several warm friends OF the UniOl
soldier from the South have been replace
by ex-Confederates. We must calculate OIL
an unyielding adverse array Of Ito Southern
votes against any liberal pension legisla
ton. This is only 50 less than a majority 0
the House.
In the Senate the ex-Confederate elemen
is even stronger in proportion. There are il
all 20 Senators, of whom 80 are a majority
The States south Of Mason and Dixon's Lin
have 81 Senators, nearly every one Of whom
served the Southern Conlederacy in tn
field, OF affiliated with il TO a more OF les
extent. We must expect at least % Of thes
10 vote solidly against any very liberal pen
sions for Union soldiers. The only hope {
success for any generous pension bill lies j
making il SO unobiectionable that it Wi
1 icNSiNt AhN H1pP"AN Va NANuaAlg SNSAg '1NA
ator from the North.
After bin has weathercd the adver'
elements in both Houses it must still Ell
counter the opposition Of the man wi
wields the veto. He has already shown l
enought 10 leave lao doubt as TO his dispos
ton.
All these things must be taken into a
count in considering the legislation TO
asked Of Congress. We must carefully COZ
slider just what there is a reasonable poss
bility Of getting, and concentrate all OF
forces upon that.
e If common sense did not show this TO
! the true policy, The light Of experience won
clearly indicate it, All that has been gott'
for the veterans has been secured piecemei
1 and by concentrating every energy upon
d few things at a time. 1t was in this WI
that we secured the passage Of the AREA
of Pension Bill, the Additional Bounty III
the various increases in ratings, the increa